(CNN) – Top advisers to President Barack Obama's presidential campaign exuded a bold confidence on their chances in critical battlegrounds Monday, saying the resources they were putting into final stretch efforts were a sign of their candidate's advantage on November 6.

"You're going to get spun and spun and spun in the next week," senior adviser David Axelrod told reporters on a conference call, before launching into the Obama campaign's version of reality on the ground. "What I would urge you to do is to focus on the facts, focus on the data, focus on the trends in the states, and if you do it will lead you to the same conclusion."

Jim Messina, Obama's campaign manager, said Romney's campaign was utilizing a combination of misdirection and outright lies to make themselves out to be ahead in states like Ohio and Virginia.

"In the final days of this campaign, the data and facts are on our side, and the spin and wishful thinking on theirs," Messina said, pointing to "small but important" leads for the president in the states that will ultimately decide the election's outcome.

Those states include Ohio, where a CNN Poll of Polls that averages the newest polls in the state indicates Obama with a three point edge over Romney, and Virginia, which a Washington Post poll Saturday showed to be a close race, with Obama four points ahead of his rival, but within the survey's sampling error.

"Romney is not where he wanted to be 8 days out," Messina said. "He's down everywhere he needs to be up. He's stooping to desperate attacks. Bluffing about the momentum he doesn't have, and releasing one of the most misleading, hypocritical and indefensible ads we've ever seen in a presidential race."

That ad, which began airing in Toledo on Saturday morning, claims Romney would be a better advocate than Obama for the American auto industry if he's elected president.

The narrator says in the spot that "Obama took GM and Chrysler into bankruptcy, and sold Chrysler to Italians who are going to build Jeeps in China. Mitt Romney will fight for every American job."

A spokesman for Chrysler had earlier emphatically denied that report, but a Romney campaign spokeswoman defended the ad Monday, saying Messina's criticism of the spot reflected his team's desperation.

"It appears the Obama campaign is less concerned with engaging in a meaningful conversation about the President's failed policies and more concerned with arguing against facts about their record they dislike," Amanda Henneberg said.

"If the Romney campaign put as much effort into their ground game as they did in to trying to twist the trust, maybe they'd be in better shape than they are 8 days out," Messina said on the call. "The Romney campaign wants you to think it's expanding the map but it's not."

Yet polls in other states do show an increasingly tightening race where Obama once held a solid lead. In Minnesota, a poll released Sunday showed a close race between the two candidates in a state long considered a safe bet for Democrats. That Star Tribune survey showed Obama at 47% and Romney at 44%.

A St. Cloud State University survey of likely Minnesota voters conducted a few days earlier indicated Obama with an eight point edge over Romney, 53% to Romney's 45%.

Both Minnesota polls were within the sampling error.

On Monday, Obama's campaign announced that former President Bill Clinton, a top surrogate in the closing days of the race, would travel to Minnesota to stump for the president.

Axelrod said the Obama team was "not going to surrender any territory there," but said he was confident of a win in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Another state that once seemed a lock for Obama, Pennsylvania, has also become tighter as Election Day draws near. A poll taken October 23-25 for the Philadelphia Inquirer showed the race within the sampling error in the Keystone State – 49% of likely voters supported Obama and 43% supported Romney.

Obama resources are also headed there – Vice President Joe Biden will stump in his hometown of Scranton on Thursday, and Messina said on Monday's call that the campaign would begin airing an commercial in the state to counter a $2.1 million Pennsylvania ad buy from Restore Our Future, the pro-Romney super PAC.

"We're not going to take anything for granted," Messina said.

Rich Beeson, the Romney campaign political director, said the Obama campaign call was a continuation of "desperate and flailing spin in an attempt to explain why suddenly states that were never considered in play are up for grabs."

soundoff(27 Responses)

truth hurts

Obama campaign's version of reality on the ground. "What I would urge you to do is to focus on the facts, focus on the data, focus on the trends in the states, and if you do it will lead you to the same conclusion."
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Is Axelrod drinking heavily or something?! ALL of the trends are in ROMNEY'S favor. Obama is trending DOWN and OUT!! I hope this fool doesn't wait to long to line up another line of work.

October 29, 2012 02:02 pm at 2:02 pm |

bethjoyce

What I love about Obama is that he is so consistent and really keeps his eye on the ball. He keeps moving forward reagardless what the polls say or what anyone says ane he always hits the mark. He always gets where he is going!!

October 29, 2012 02:11 pm at 2:11 pm |

Reggiedw

Obama is on a losing streak. Romney has the momentum and he will win on November 06/12!!!!!

October 29, 2012 02:13 pm at 2:13 pm |

Lisa P

truth hurts

Obama campaign's version of reality on the ground. "What I would urge you to do is to focus on the facts, focus on the data, focus on the trends in the states, and if you do it will lead you to the same conclusion."
==========================================================================================
Is Axelrod drinking heavily or something?! ALL of the trends are in ROMNEY'S favor. Obama is trending DOWN and OUT!! I hope this fool doesn't wait to long to line up another line of work.
October 29, 2012 02:02 pm at 2:02 pm
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You just keep on telling yourself that - the real truth is really going to hurt come Wednesday morning. President Obama has done a good job of leading the country through tough times. He is going to be re-elected.

October 29, 2012 02:14 pm at 2:14 pm |

Claudia, Houston, Tx

Axelrod is correct and his message is for all Obama supporters, "Heads Up", keep voting and let the Romney camp spin and spun their own web of deceit because Obama camp knows what's going on and it ain't going Romney's way, not under their watch. Keep Voting Obama 2012.

October 29, 2012 02:16 pm at 2:16 pm |

sonnie3

Axelrod knows it is more than spin, It is a high volume of wind blowing in the face of reality/ Obama will be a one term peresident because he is a divider instead of a leader.
Also Obama's adgenda is not what America Want's and our Freedoms and Liberties are dooooomed if he were to stay in power with all the excutive orders he and his czars have put forth. He wants to be a ruler and not a leader of this Great Nation.

October 29, 2012 02:17 pm at 2:17 pm |

XXXX

Romney and his Camp has to witness come Nov. 6 what it means to have a plan and goal in advance. I am very, very proud of Obama Camp. They are superb and they knew right from the beginning what they are for.

October 29, 2012 02:35 pm at 2:35 pm |

jpmichigan

Obama's web has been spun, just don't get caught up in it. The same playbook used over and over will not always get you a touchdown., espically since it has shown not to work and Obama's playbook used for now 4 yrs has shown not to work. No vision, no leadership , no governing skillls doesnot = re-election material. Many secrets, much to many secrets and eventually locked doors are opened!!!

October 29, 2012 02:40 pm at 2:40 pm |

redemasters

Reblogged this on Redemasters and commented:
Obama states that all states remain in play. However there is a growing movement that NC and Florida will tip red, and other states once held by double digit obama leads have dwindled to a mere 3 plus/minus victor

October 29, 2012 02:41 pm at 2:41 pm |

gt

i voted ...and the mood out in the line was change is in the air....

October 29, 2012 02:41 pm at 2:41 pm |

jpmichigan

Too many secrets, too too many!!!

October 29, 2012 02:41 pm at 2:41 pm |

California Gary

I used to think Romney was just the lesser of the two candidates.......that Obama would be preferable, but if Romney won it would be ok. But after seeing Romney changing positions as often as most people changes socks, I have serious doubts about his character. And then after seeing the 3rd debate on foreign affairs, I now believe a Romney win could be disasterous to our country.......much as the Bush presidency was. This man is unfit to lead our nation, and I believe a majority of Americans will come to that conclusion on November 6th. The proof will be in the ballot box, not in the polls that are all over the place.

Obama campaign's version of reality on the ground. "What I would urge you to do is to focus on the facts, focus on the data, focus on the trends in the states, and if you do it will lead you to the same conclusion."
==========================================================================================
Is Axelrod drinking heavily or something?! ALL of the trends are in ROMNEY'S favor. Obama is trending DOWN and OUT!! I hope this fool doesn't wait to long to line up another line of work.
October 29, 2012 02:02 pm at 2:02 pm
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You just keep on telling yourself that – the real truth is really going to hurt come Wednesday morning. President Obama has done a good job of leading the country through tough times. He is going to be re-elected.

Yeah he did a real good job watching the seals die in Libya – Way to go President!!

October 29, 2012 02:48 pm at 2:48 pm |

ray

plain and simple , get the african american president out the white house even if you must lie your way into it romney. talk about family values on the right, listen up america and dont be fooled by these pathological liars romney and ryan.

October 29, 2012 02:59 pm at 2:59 pm |

SCSU Alumni

Oh, you betcha, Minnesota is in play! Please note the St. Cloud State University survey was conducted from October 15th through 21st . . . BEFORE the final debate. The poll the left-leaning Strib references showing Romney w/in the margin of error was conducted AFTER the final debate and as more and more Benghazi details were revealed.

October 29, 2012 03:01 pm at 3:01 pm |

tykl

@ California Gary – if you have not voted yet, can I give you some perspective on flip-flopping?

Obama is against gay marriage, then is for it 3 months before the election. hmmmm..

Obama tells Univision that his biggest regret was no comprehensive immigration reform. He ran on it in 2008 but did nothing during his first FOUR years (just Executive Order 3 months before the election. hmmmm.).

Obama said Gitmo must be closed. Yet it remains open despite his ability to pass Obamacare with not a single Republican signature (so please spare the "Republicans opposed us.......").

Obama says he is for US energy independence, but denies the Keystone pipeline.

Obama says Bush was unpatriotic for increasing the debt ceiling, but he has done nothing but raise it.

Obama said he would cut the deficit in half, but then raised it from 10T to 16T.

Obama said he would have the most transparent administration – what ever happened to the Fast and Furious investigation once the press stopped hounding him? If you think their report solved anything, then name me the person who okayed the project.

The list goes on forever, so please spare the flip-flop meme from the O talking points. Just remember, Romney changed his view on abortion about 10 years ago and has been the same since (saying anti-abortion legislation is not part of his platform just means he is focused on economic issues, not social – just ask O if the economy was on his platform when he was wasting 2 years shoving a universally disliked healthcare package down Congress's throat) while O has changed his politically convenient stance on gay marriage within the last 3-4 months.

October 29, 2012 03:05 pm at 3:05 pm |

nina

i love how those of you mention libya....well if you want to talk about it, first talk about the wonderful republican party lying to all americans about WMD which lead to the war in Iraq and wounded & killed thousands of pple. why don't you first try and defend that and then lets see where you stand on libya...an attack that happened overseas and yes, unfortunately took 4 american lives, but that which this administration did not incite but instead reacted to as would any administration.
and b4 you jump all over the reaction, again, first try and defend the intelligence the bush administration had months if not years prior to 9/11....lets see how your defence on that stands first!

October 29, 2012 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |

Dayne Oflynn

Obama still hasn't ever had a original idea in his life. He lost my vote the moment he put in place so many people that used there office as a tool to limit the effectivness of the goverment so such a low level that I don't see the america that people would like to come too, because the immigrants came to have a opportunity to achieve, but now the one sided regulations that have been put in place by this adminstration do the excact opposite. I hope Romney would win, and hope he puts in people that actually do something.

The reason things don't get done isn't because of the Republicans. The house passed quite a few bills that probably were more structured toward business then social services, but they allowed the democrats to vote against them. The senate won't even bring them up to vote them down. They are bottleneck in the system at this point, but many people are so fooled by the media on both side. The fact that they are so obviously hiding information from those that are faithful viewers and not even taking the time to disbute the claims of the other stations is increasing frustrating. It is almost a acknowledgment that it is true when they don't cover it...

Obama is ahead. Romney doesn't have enough time to catch up with Obama. Game over, Sandy did not help Romney. And there is no momentum on either side left. Folks have made up their minds–it's about the ground game now–turning out the vote. Romney will lose Ohio, Nevada and most likely Virginia, not by a landslide but he will never the less lose. His path to 270 has always be harder. The more populous states are blue, the others just aren't in his cards this time.

October 29, 2012 03:15 pm at 3:15 pm |

Borderless

Let's see. What kind of resources can Obama's camp be putting into play to guarantee his re-election and four more years of fail? Well, there's his tried and true method of just outright buying votes. There's the Jim Moran method that continues to be a favorite of the Democratic party. Let's not forget the technique that involves Democratic volunteers filling out voter cards for people who are completely oblivious, telling them who to vote for, bribing them with lunches and bussing them to the polls. Obama, aggressively seeking four more years of corruption.

Romney/Ryan 2012

October 29, 2012 03:20 pm at 3:20 pm |

Jason

@truth hurts,
For months I seen you come on this blog and run your mouth, well next tuesday night the real truth is gonna hurt you really bad when Obama is re-elected. Please come on the ticket on Nov 7th so i can laugh at you.
@Troy,
Bush sure did a good job protecting all those people in the world trade center on 9/11/01. Keep on watching Fox news non stop Benghazi coverage.

October 29, 2012 03:22 pm at 3:22 pm |

indie 52

No doubt the polls encourage people to vote. i know a lot of people who were not going to vote when the polls were not close, now they are all energized. History has proven what party benefits from a high voter turn out. Keep up the good work pollsters especially Rasmussen Reports.

October 29, 2012 03:41 pm at 3:41 pm |

Lisa P

Troy

Lisa P

truth hurts

Obama campaign's version of reality on the ground. "What I would urge you to do is to focus on the facts, focus on the data, focus on the trends in the states, and if you do it will lead you to the same conclusion."
==========================================================================================
Is Axelrod drinking heavily or something?! ALL of the trends are in ROMNEY'S favor. Obama is trending DOWN and OUT!! I hope this fool doesn't wait to long to line up another line of work.
October 29, 2012 02:02 pm at 2:02 pm
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You just keep on telling yourself that – the real truth is really going to hurt come Wednesday morning. President Obama has done a good job of leading the country through tough times. He is going to be re-elected.

Yeah he did a real good job watching the seals die in Libya – Way to go President!!
October 29, 2012 02:48 pm at 2:48 pm
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"seals"? You don't even know enough to be able to wave your own bloody shirt. No wonder you can't figure out what President Obama has done to save and rebuild this country in the last four years. No wonder you believe all the hot air blowing from the Romney camp, and their mouthpieces on Fox News. I'd bet you couldn't even find Libya on a map, forget knowing anything about what happened to the "seals". But I'm sure you're happy to complain about it - who cares that Mitt Romney admitted he wouldn't (couldn't) have done anything different. Go back to macho military fantasy land where you belong and leave the voting to the adults.

October 29, 2012 03:47 pm at 3:47 pm |

Jersey Girl

I think the President will win with 298 electoral votes. The Robme campaign has come out with A TOTALLY MISLEADING JEEP AD! I hope it backfires on them. The fact is that Chrysler has so much $ now that it can add about 3,000 jobs in 3 cities, as well as open new plants in other countries, including China. Good for Toledo, Ohio, and the other cities!